2024 Acura MDX vs 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E surprised many with its blend of Mustang styling cues on a five-door electric crossover SUV. Despite its unconventional dimensions, the Mach-E's design, featuring galloping horse emblems, scowling headlights, and bold rear fender haunches, successfully tied it to the iconic pony car, boosting its popularity. Since its debut in 2021, Ford produced over 150,000 units, offering various trims like Select, Premium, California Route 1, and GT, with prices ranging from $45,995 to $63,995, plus a destination charge. The GT trim, with its aggressive styling, unique 20-inch wheels, and dark front panel, stood out, while the interior exuded luxury with artificial leather, synthetic suede, and high-tech features.

In contrast, the 2024 Acura MDX impressed with its modern and refined exterior, featuring a large shield grille, rakish headlights, and a sophisticated bumper design. Inside, the MDX offered a high-tech but busy cabin, with a plethora of controls on the center console. Available in various trims, including the Technology, A-Spec, and Advance Packages, the MDX provided a range of features from tri-zone climate control to a panoramic sunroof. The Type-S Advance package, which we tested, included a 26-speaker ELS sound system and massaging front seats, enhancing comfort and luxury. Despite its busy interior, the MDX's overall design and features made it a strong contender in the luxury SUV market.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E offered a range of power and efficiency options, with configurations spanning from 266 to 480 horsepower and 317 to 634 pound-feet of torque. The Mach-E GT, equipped with an extended-range battery and AWD, delivered 480 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque, accelerating to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds with a 270-mile range. The GT Performance Edition increased torque to 634 lb-ft, reduced range to 260 miles, and improved handling with adaptive damping suspension and larger brakes. Driving modes like Whisper, Engage, and Unbridled, along with the exclusive Unbridled Extend mode, allowed for a customizable driving experience. Despite its firm suspension, the Mach-E GT impressed with its driving dynamics and efficiency, achieving 2.7 miles per kWh during testing.

The 2024 Acura MDX featured a standard 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 290 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque, while the Type-S boasted a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 with 355 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque. The 10-speed automatic transmission and available Super-Handling AWD provided smooth power delivery and strong acceleration. The Type-S Advance, with its adaptive air suspension and Brembo brakes, offered a comfortable yet sporty ride, with various driving modes like Sport, Comfort, and Lift for different conditions. Despite its size, the MDX handled well, with responsive steering and a tight turning radius. The MDX's towing capacity reached 5,000 pounds with AWD, making it a versatile choice for luxury SUV buyers.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E, with its crossover SUV design, offered practicality alongside style. It accommodated up to five passengers and provided 34.1 cubic feet of cargo space, including a 4.7 cu-ft front trunk. The GT trim featured eight-way power-adjustable heated front seats wrapped in black ActiveX leather and Miko suede, with a stylish center console offering ample storage. The rear seats, accessible through wide-opening doors, comfortably seated three children or two adults, enhanced by a panoramic glass roof. The cargo area expanded to 59.7 cu-ft with rear seats folded, making the Mach-E a functional choice for families.

The 2024 Acura MDX came standard with three rows of seating, offering comfort in the first two rows but limited space in the third, suitable for children. Cargo space measured 16.3 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expanding to 39.1 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 71.4 cubic feet with both rear rows down. The Type-S Advance featured a second-row bench with a fold-down center console and easy access to the third row. Despite a cluttered center stack, the MDX provided ample storage and cupholders throughout the cabin, with a power liftgate standard and hands-free operation available on higher trims.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E featured a 15.5-inch vertical touchscreen running on Ford's Sync 4A platform, offering wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. Despite its awkward integration, the system provided a comprehensive user experience with natural voice recognition and predictive suggestions. The Bang & Olufsen sound system delivered excellent audio quality, while the 10.2-inch digital instrument display offered essential driving data. Phone As A Key technology allowed smartphone-based vehicle access, adding convenience despite initial skepticism.

The 2024 Acura MDX struggled with its infotainment system, controlled via a touchpad rather than a touchscreen. Despite its clumsy interface, the MDX offered wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The center console cleverly integrated charging ports and a wireless charging pad, but the overall system detracted from the driving experience. While the MDX's feature set was impressive, the infotainment system's complexity made it less appealing compared to competitors with more intuitive setups.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E came equipped with Ford's Co-Pilot360 Assist 2.0, including BlueCruise hands-free highway driving. BlueCruise 1.2 added features like lane-change and predictive speed assist, but lacked a head-up display for better system status communication. The Mach-E received top safety marks from the IIHS and was a 2022 Top Safety Pick, though NHTSA ratings were incomplete at the time of review.

The 2024 Acura MDX offered a comprehensive suite of driver assistance features, including automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring. The Technology Package added parking sensors and reverse emergency braking, while the Advance package included a 360-degree camera and head-up display. The 2022 MDX earned a five-star NHTSA rating and IIHS Top Safety Pick+ status, with strong crash-prevention scores. However, the infotainment system's distraction potential remained a concern.